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capacity for anticipating results, their knowlede of causation, 

 their perception of the intricate and subtle manner in which 

 what are apparently isolated facts or occurrences are really 

 linked to others. No one will be found to deny that the 

 possession and exercise of such faculties by the mass of 

 mankind would make life more agreeable for themselves and 

 for others, and there is fair reason for believing that in the 

 course of generations it may help to make good conduct 

 instinctive. 



There are many — and in this many I fear we must include 

 some scientific men — who would admit the force of these 

 general considerations as to the value of science and of 

 scientific collections to the public, but who would say, 

 "But I do not see why we should trouble ourselves about 

 insects ; the other branches of science are sufficient ; there 

 are chemistry and physics and astronomy, and if you must 

 concern yourself about living things surely the larger animals, 

 whales, lions, elephants, ostriches, are sufficient for all 

 practical purposes, and are nobler objects of study." To 

 these ample answer might be made ; but there is such a 

 wealth of ignorance revealed in this opinion that it is im- 

 possible for me to delay to-night to expose it ; and we may 

 refer those possessing similar ideas to Kirby and Spence's 

 ' Introduction to Entomology,' which is specially adapted for 

 their perusal. 



But it is certain that great as are the educational and 

 economic value of the other branches of science to the com- 

 munity, Entomology is not inferior in these respects to any 

 one of them, and, though there may be some practical 

 difficulty in its use, it has some special advantages that must 

 not be forgotten. 



"Natura maxime miranda in minimis," said Linnseus : 

 and yet the small size of the individuals is really the only 

 cause for insects being so neglected, as they still are, by the 

 bulk of mankind. The quantity of organic matter on the 

 surface of our globe at any one time is but an unimportant 

 fragment of the total matter, and probably has for long 

 oscillated within small limits ; by far the larger part of it is 

 locked up in vegetable forms, which are certainly of the 



